Driver faces manslaughter charges in Portage fatalities

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- An Anchorage man who is accused of killing two boys in Portage while drunk driving faces manslaughter and and other charges.

Robert Richardson, 35, faces two counts of manslaughter, two counts of first degree assault and one count of driving while intoxicated, KTUU-TV in Anchorage reported Wednesday.

According to court documents, Richardson recklessly caused the death of Kevin D. Blake, 15, of Tatitlek and Kenneth Kramer, 11, of Wasilla, on July 12.

Alaska State Troopers said Richardson's blood alcohol level was .175 when his pickup truck crossed the center line at Mile 1.3 of Portage Glacier Road and slammed into the sedan Blake was driving. This is Richardson's first DWI charge, KTUU reported.

Blake and Kramer were killed in the crash. Passengers David Glasen, 61, and Patsy Glasen, 57, of Tatitlek were ejected from the car. David Glasen suffered head injuries and a broken hip. Patsy Glasen suffered head injuries.

Richardson suffered a broken leg, a severed finger and a lacerated aorta.

Troopers said that 20 minutes before the crash, a tow truck driver had winched Richardson's truck from deep water off Portage Glacier Road. The tow truck driver, John B. Sheedy, told Richardson he was too drunk to drive then followed the pickup for about half a mile before it pulled off the road.

Sheedy has said he didn't think he had the legal authority to take Richardson's keys. Troopers said Sheedy wasn't criminally negligent.